With principal photography of the Elizabeth Taylor biopic "Liz & Dick" beginning in Los Angeles this week, Lifetime is wasting no time in getting the public used to envisioning "Mean Girls" star Lindsay Lohan as movie icon Taylor.

Following on the steamy photo released earlier this week, which depicted Lohan-as-Taylor having her neck nuzzled by "Atlas Shrugged" star Grant Bowler (who's portraying Taylor's husband Richard Burton), the network has released two more images.

The first, showing Lohan in costume while wearing a little red dress and perched on an animal skin, seems intent on showcasing Lohan's cleavage as much as her resemblance to "Cleopatra" star Taylor.

The second is far more demure, displaying Bowler-as-Burton seated cross-legged and fully clothed in a director's chair.

Looks like we know where the film will derive its sex-appeal from.

"Liz & Dick," which chronicles Taylor and Burton's decades-long, on-and-off romance, will premiere later this year.

Zooey Deschanel's sitcom New Girl will return to UK screens later this month, it has been confirmed.

New Girl will now air on E4 rather than Channel 4 because the broadcaster believes the show has a stronger appeal with the sister channel's younger audience, reports Broadcast.

New Girl still has 13 episodes of its 24-episode run to air in the UK.

A Channel 4 rep said: "We're constantly looking at what's best for our content across the portfolio of channels and while we were very happy with New Girl's performance on C4, we saw that the profile of New Girl was skewing significantly younger than the C4 slot average and was more in line with the E4 target demographic.

"E4 is the ideal UK home for Jess and the guys and we're very excited to see them move there in June."

New Girl has been picked up for a second series by Fox in the US and has been a ratings hit.

The comedy - starring Deschanel, Jack Johnson, Max Greenfield and Lamorne Morris - picked up decent figures in the 8.30pm slot on Fridays on Channel 4, but proved even more successful on the broadcaster's catch-up services, regularly topping their monthly charts.

FX has picked up a new series from Australian stand-up comedian Jim Jefferies, the network said Wednesday.

The series, titled "Legit," has received a 13-episode order and is slated to premiere in January 2013. Jefferies co-created the series with Peter O'Fallon of "The Riches." Both will serve as executive producers, along with Rick Cleveland ("Nurse Jackie," "Mad Men") and Lisa Blum of New Wave Entertainment.

"Legit" will revolve around a comedian named Jim (played by Jefferies) and his efforts to achieve legitimacy in life. Dan Bakkedahl and D.J. Qualls ("Road Trip") also star, as Jim's best friend Steve and Steve's brother Billy, respectively.

"I couldn't be happier than getting to do this show,” Jefferies said. “FX has set the bar so high with shows like 'Louie' and 'Sunny,' but I believe Peter and I have created something special. The cast is amazing and FX has given us all the freedom we need. I can’t wait for people to see it."

Facing cable competition from Game 5 of the NBA Finals, NBC's "America's Got Talent" and Fox's "Hell's Kitchen" felt declines on Tuesday night, with NBC pulling out a narrow overall win in ratings and total viewership, according to preliminary numbers.

NBC took first place in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic with a 2.2 rating/6 share and in total viewers with 7.4 million.

Though down 8 percent from last week, "America's Got Talent" at 8 p.m. was still the night's top-rated show, with a 3.4/11, and the most-watched, with 12.2 million total viewers.

The adventure-dating reality series "Love in the Wild" the following hour had its season premiere, slipping 27 percent from last year's series premiere with a 1.6/4, and taking 5 million total viewers.

Fox came in second in ratings with a 2.1/6 and fourth in total viewers with 4.8 million. "Hell's Kitchen" at 8 was down 12 percent from Monday's season premiere (and 16 percent from last June's premiere) with a 2.1/7, and took 4.8 million total viewers. "MasterChef" the following hour was also down from Monday's season premiere (but up from last June's premiere) with a 2.1/6, and also drew 4.8 million total viewers.

Univision came in third in ratings and fifth in total viewers with an average 1.3/4 and 3.3 million.

CBS shared fourth place in ratings with ABC, averaging a 1.2/3, and took second in total viewers with an average 7.2 million. The network ran repeats throughout the night.

ABC, which came in third in total viewers with 5.6 million, ran repeats with the exception of the "20/20" special "Concert for the Queen: A Diamond Jubilee Celebration With Katie Couric" at 10, which received a 1.3/4 and 6.8 million total viewers.

Beloved author Ray Bradbury, who wrote such classics as "Fahrenheit 451," "The Martian Chronicles," "The Illustrated Man," "Dandelion Wine," and "Something Wicked This Way Comes," has died. He was 91.

Bradbury, who lived in Los Angeles, died after a long illness, his publisher said.

His works were read by everyone from schoolchildren to sci-fi and fantasy afficionados -- and sometimes he transformed the former into the latter.

He moved easily between the tender nostalgia of "Dandelion Wine" to the dystopian future of "Fahrenheit 451" -- which imagined a world where firemen burn books. (Its title was said to refer to the temperature at which paper burns.)

The book, a powerful, compact statement against censorship, was especially dear to him. He ordered a tombstone, before he died, at Westwood Village Memorial Park. Along with his name, it reads simply, "Author of Fahrenheit 451."

The book's themes were so familiar that Michael Moore played off of its title with his 2004 anti-Bush Administration film "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Bradbury's impact on pop culture was immeasurable. His stories became bestsellers, and aired on television for six decades on shows including "The Twilight Zone" and "Ray Bradbury Theater." They were made into films including Francois Truffaut's 1966 "Fahrenheit 451" and 1983's "Something Wicked This Way Comes." An adaptation of "Dandelion Wine" is currently underway.

Bradbury also wrote the 1956 film adaptation of John Huston’s, "Moby Dick," and received an Emmy for his 1993 teleplay, "The Halloween Tree."

His literary awards included the 2000 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the 2004 National Medal of Arts, and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation.

Despite the fantastical worlds he created -- often for movies and television -- he was wary of technology and conspicuous consumption. His breakthrough work, 1950's "The Martian Chronicles," tells a series of interconnected short stories in which warlike humans colonize Mars and kill most of its inhabitants with their germs.

Bradbury refused to drive or take airplanes, and complained about people turning to their cell phones instead of interacting with the human beings in front of them. With "Fahrenheit 451" in 1953, he imagined a world in which books lost their influence in favor of TV, movies, and sports, leading to a less intellectual populace.

One could argue he saw that world come to life. But he wasn't bitter.

In the 2005 book of essays, "Bradbury Speaks," he wrote: “In my later years I have looked in the mirror each day and found a happy person staring back. Occasionally I wonder why I can be so happy. The answer is that every day of my life I’ve worked only for myself and for the joy that comes from writing and creating. The image in my mirror is not optimistic, but the result of optimal behavior.”

He is survived by his four daughters, Susan Nixon, Ramona Ostergren, Bettina Karapetian, and Alexandra Bradbury, and eight grandchildren.

His wife, Marguerite, predeceased him in 2003, after fifty-seven years of marriage.

His publisher said Bradbury liked to recount the story of meeting a carnival magician, Mr. Electrico, in 1932, when he was 12. At the end of his performance Electrico reached out to Bradbury, touched the boy with his sword, and commanded him, “Live forever!”

“I decided that was the greatest idea I had ever heard," Bradbury later said. "I started writing every day. I never stopped.”

Disney has become the first major US media company to announce a wide-ranging ban on junk food advertising across its television, online and radio networks.

The company said that the "significant undertaking" was part of its work with parents to "inspire kids to lead healthier lifestyles" and tackle America's growing problem of child obesity.

All food and beverage products advertised, sponsored or promoted on the Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Radio Disney and Disney-owned online destinations aimed at younger children will be required to meet Disney's nutrition guidelines by 2015.

These guidelines are said to be indexed to US Federal standards, and involve promotion of fruit and vegetables, over products high in saturated fat, sodium and sugar.

Disney is expected to see a slight dip in advertising revenue from the move, as producers of junk food and sugary drinks are understood to spend more than $1bn (£650m) a year on ads directed at children under 12 years.

But US First Lady Michelle Obama described Disney's initiative as a "game changer" for the health of American children.

"This is a major American company - a global brand - that is literally changing the way it does business so that our kids can lead healthier lives," she said.

"With this new initiative, Disney is doing what no major media company has ever done before in the US - and what I hope every company will do going forward.

"When it comes to the ads they show and the food they sell, they are asking themselves one simple question: 'Is this good for our kids?'"

Disney first established its nutrition guidelines in 2006, governing all licensed meals and snacks served at its parks and resorts. This involved all children's meals automatically being served with nutritious sides and beverages, unless the parents "opt out".

The company said of the more than 12 million kids' meals served last year at its parks in the US, parents stuck with the healthier options six out of 10 times.

Disney said that it will enhance its "breakthrough efforts" by further reducing sodium in kids' meals and introducing new well-balanced kids' breakfast meals.

It has also created a "Mickey Check" system that flags up nutritious food and menu items in stores, online and restaurants at its US parks and resorts.

"We're proud of the impact we've had over the last six years," said Robert A Iger, the chairman and chief executive of The Walt Disney Company.

"We've taken steps across our company to support better choices for families, and now we're taking the next important step forward by setting new food advertising standards for kids.

"The emotional connection kids have to our characters and stories gives us a unique opportunity to continue to inspire and encourage them to lead healthier lives."

By 2015, advertising of any cereals with 10 grams or more of sugar per serving, or a full meal with over 600 calories, would not be advertised on its networks, said Disney.

Sugary drinks and high sodium products would also be banned, the company added.

The move has been met with some scepticism, including fears that Disney may be using it as a PR stunt.

But campaigners have also recognised that it is a potentially positive step in the fight against unhealthy lifestyles, as recent studies show that almost a third of American children are overweight or obese.

A separate report issued in February claimed that British children are still being exposed to the same level of junk food ads despite tighter regulations being imposed by regulator Ofcom.

The comedian, who previously described the DS forums as a place of "vitriol, hate and anger", said he is unable to tolerate people who can't understand the challenge of producing a TV show, which he likened to "climbing Kilimanjaro blindfold[ed] with your legs tied together".

He told Digital Spy: "All of the people that post [on the forums] have never tried to make a television programme... everybody's entitled to an opinion, but I'm entitled to think your opinion is worth f**kall.

"Digital Spy forums for whatever reason just seem to be particularly populated with people who espouse great wisdom and yet I think must have fallen over while they were picking their nose."

Turning directly to our camera, he continued: "If you're a Digital Spy forum poster and you've ever posted something along the lines of, 'Maybe we should take it reasonably', or 'In context maybe it's worth considering', then my quarrel isn't with you.

"If you've ever made a definitive statement on a show that you have no idea about, you're a f**king moron. "

However, Hound - who was speaking at the We Will Rock You 10th anniversary show last month - admitted that he has not been on Digital Spy's forums recently and revealed that he used to be similarly critical of TV before finding fame.

Hound also confirmed to DS at the event that he has left Celebrity Juice.

Have I Got News For You (4.22m/19.7%) and The Graham Norton Show (3.13m/22.6%) aired at 9.30pm and 10.35pm to relatively impressive figures, while ITV1's Poms and Paradise interested 2.99m (14.5%) at 8pm (+1: 146k).

BBC Two's Great British Menu served up 1.68m (8.2%) from 8pm, then Gardeners' World enthralled 1.2m (5.3%) at 8.30pm. The Great British Story: A People's History grabbed 1.24m (5.7%) in the 9pm junction, before 767k (4.8%) tuned in for Episodes an hour later.

Channel 4's 8 Out of 10 Cats entertained 976k (4.4%) at 9pm (+1: 364k), after which Very Important People amused 664k (3.1%) at 9.30pm (+1: 137k). At 10pm, Alan Carr: Chatty Man attracted 1.41m (8%) and 275k on timeshift.

The Mentalist anchored Channel 5's schedule with 1.3m (6%) at 9pm, while Castle had 841k (4.7%) at 10pm.

In a sign of the malaise affecting the Australian free-to-air TV broadcasters, Network Ten is raising $A200 million in a share offer to invest in new Australian programming and strengthen its balance sheet. The company headed by executive chairman Lachlan Murdoch has been hit by a sharp downturn in ratings and advertising revenue. That’s due in part to the soaring popularity of rival Nine Network’s local version of The Voice, and amid a sluggish economy and consumers’ fears about the impact of the European financial crisis. Ten said TV revenue for the nine months ending in May was down 12% year-over-year and advertising markets “continue to be soft with very little near-term visibility on revenue for July and August.”

Murdoch, who with James Packer, former Paramount International TV president Bruce Gordon and mining tycoon Gina Rinehart own 43% of Ten’s shares, said the network is due to repay $US125 million in debt in March 2013. Revenue for Australia’s free-to-air broadcasters fell by 4.4% to $2.06 billion in the last half of 2011, and analysts say the overall market is down by 2%-3% so far this year.

The company has some promotions this morning that it says complement its previously announced restructuring plans. Kelly Cline was promoted from SVP to EVP of entertainment business and legal affairs for the Fox Cable Networks, reporting to FNG’s General Counsel Rita Tuzon. Cline, who joined the company in 1989 as counsel for 20th Century Fox Television, will handle FX, Fox Movie Channel, National Geographic and NG Wild. In addition, Matthew Bensen was promoted to SVP of business and legal affairs overseeing distribution for Fox Cable Networks.

He’ll report to FCN Deputy General Counsel Claudia Teran and will continue to be involved in cutting deals with pay TV providers for Fox’s broadcast and cable services. Also, Phillip Gharabegian was promoted to SVP of business and legal affairs for sports at FNC. He’ll handle rights and sponsorship agreements as well as day-to-day business and legal affairs for Fox Sports’ ad sales unit, Home Team Sports. He’ll report to Karen Brodkin, EVP Business and Legal Affairs for FOX Sports Media Group.

Actors like to dabble. It’s how Ron Howard went from Happy Days to feature-directing greatness. So it’s no surprise that those who have the opportunity take the plunge to write and direct for TV. Historically, actors have had their share of Emmy good fortune, most recently including comedy writing wins for Tina Fey (30 Rock), Garry Shandling (The Larry Sanders Show) and Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen) and drama series nominations for Denis Leary (writing, Rescue Me), Laura Innes (directing, The West Wing) and Steve Buscemi (directing, The Sopranos). We caught up with five such multi-faceted souls who will be submitting for Emmy consideration this year in categories outside of their performances. They discussed what it is that inspires them to move to the other side of the camera.

BRYAN CRANSTON(Star of AMC’s drama Breaking Bad, directed the Modern Family episode “Election Day”)“You wind up using a different set of muscles directing than you do acting. I didn’t go in there trying to change things. My job was to get the things I needed to get to satisfy Steve Levitan. I went in with a list of what I needed to get and a secondary one of what I wanted to get — and then a third one in my back pocket of what it would be really cool to get. I was able to satisfy all of those things. But it involved a certain amount of anxiety. I just marvel at guys like James Burrows who are so calm and make it look so easy.”

WILLIAM H. MACY(Star of Showtime’s dramedy Shameless, co-wrote the series episode “Can I Have A Mother?”)“My ulterior motive for writing at this point, in all candor, is to craft myself a really nice part. I don’t really write stuff that’s just sent off for other people to act. My writing partner Steven Schachter and I were able to write some very sweet stuff for me, like Door To Door (which earned Macy a pair of Emmys in 2003). I love the process of creating with Steven. It’s that part of knowing the beginning, middle and end and then putting in all of the connective tissue that I find such a joy. And I have to say, I love television. I truly believe we’re in a golden age right now. One reason for it is that audiences … demand surprises and love good writing and insist upon it. With the demise of the indie film market, TV is really now the place to be.”

LENA DUNHAM(Creator/star of HBO’s comedy Girls, the 26-year-old also wrote and directed the majority of episodes)“People probably think I’m a control freak. But honestly, since I come out of an independent film background, multi-tasking is just what I do.” (She excuses herself to tell a cab driver to turn right.) “My head is just naturally in a million places. But the reason I direct is, if I’ve written the material I’m probably the best person to be in charge of getting my message across. … The key is just surrounding yourself with people who will be totally honest with you, from the DP to the producers to the costume designer. … The fact is, making a movie is making a movie. It’s easier to do it with 55 people than with six people. But the challenges and joys remain the same.”

DAVID DUCHOVNY(Star of Showtime’s comedy Californication, directed the series episode “The Way Of The Fist”)“It’s easier to direct myself on the show than in a movie, because at this point I pretty much understand my character and his motivations. But I see acting and directing as very much connected. It’s all making entertainment and telling stories. But sometimes I have to push myself to stay in the moment while directing. I tend to get very excited when other actors are doing well and forget that I’m actually in the scene with them. I’ll quietly start to celebrate on the inside that they nailed it, and it’s tough to stay focused myself. But when someone does something surprising or wonderful in a scene you’re directing, well, this business doesn’t get any better than that.”

JOHN SLATTERY(Regular on AMC’s drama Mad Men, directed the series episode “Signal 30”)“It’s such a different experience from being merely one of the players. You’re really the one who’s responsible for telling the story. Matt (Weiner) has a very specific view of the show and an idea of what he wants, and he translates that to you. I know he has the reputation for being controlling, but he wants you as the director to put your stamp on it. And I just love directing. It takes considerably more time than does acting alone. But it also allows you to see how you are, warts and all, which is a good thing. It helps you to get over yourself: the way you look, the way you stand, the way you speak. You just become another element that you’re editing. That’s ultimately a good thing for your self-image.

From the makers of the virtual Tupac Shakur, who “appeared” at the Coachella Valley Music Festival, comes virtual Elvis Presley. CORE Media Group (formerly CKx), which owns the Presley brand, has signed a deal with digital production company Digital Domain Media Group to develop, produce and own a series of “virtual” Elvis Presley likenesses for entertainment projects – shows and appearances to film, TV and multi-platform productions throughout the world.

“This is a new and exciting way to bring the magic and music of Elvis Presley to life,” said Elvis Presley Enterprises President and CEO, Jack Soden. The companies have already begun work on the virtual Elvis Presley likenesses.

Morgan Freeman exudes gravitas. He has played the president and God. His name is almost synonymous with authority.

So as he patiently explains that aliens might be traveling to Earth to eat us, you can't help but feel a little nervous.

The man-eating alien scenario is just one of the possibilities Freeman explores with his Science series "Through the Wormhole," returning for its third season tonight. Each episode addresses a different question about the universe, no matter how difficult or contentious. Tonight's premiere, for example, is titled, "Is There a Superior Race?"

We asked the Oscar winner, 75, his thoughts on that and other questions upcoming shows will address, including, "Did We Invent God?" and "Can We Eliminate Evil?"

We also asked about a certain evil eliminator for whom he plays inventor-in-chief in "The Dark Knight Rises." He surprised us by answering very directly when asked if his character survives the upcoming film.

You're asked to do projects like "Through the Wormhole" because have such an authoritative presence. Is that something you aspired to as a young actor?

Freeman: Oh heavens no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. When I was a young actor I just set out to get work. Like the rest of us.

What drew you to answering life's big questions?

I think I just fall into a huge pot of people who are fascinated with what's out there. I used to read a lot of science fiction... particularly that of Isaac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlein and some other very interesting people, and they came up with thoughts about what's possible on Earth.

I was hoping to ask for your personal answers to some of the questions raised in upcoming episodes. The season premiere asks, "Is there a superior race?" I'm not sure if that refers to an alien race or races on Earth.

We discuss the idea of a superior race coming here. Professor Michio Kaku has an interesting discussion on it. Intelligence apparently requires an enormous amount of protein. Which is why we eat meat. Instead of being vegetarians. We have this enormous brain capacity.

Suppose a superior race did come from outer space and land here. It would need a food supply because if they were superior, they would have an even larger brain than we do. So we might -- might -- qualify as sustenance.

Do you think that meat-eating humans are smarter than vegetarian humans?

Ehhh. You don't want to get me in trouble here. ... I don't know. The question is evolutionary. Whoever is a vegetarian today, they didn't evolve as vegetarians. They became vegetarians.

Another question from the show: Can we eliminate evil?

No. You cannot. Because if you eliminate evil you'll also eliminate good.

What is evil?

Evil is the opposite of good. Like up is the opposite of down, left is the opposite of right. You only have one because you have the other.

You don't play a lot of villains, but do you think there are villains? Because we always hear that villains don't think that they're villains.

I think that there is balance in the universe. And these questions are the questions of balance.

This next question may be the hardest, and I'm especially curious about your answer because you've played God, and had to guess how God would act...

Well, I need to play the devil now, to balance it out. [Laughs.]

Did we invent God?

Yes.

So there isn't a God up in the sky somewhere. We came up with God ourselves.

Well, here's a scientific question: Has anybody ever seen hard evidence? What we get is theories from our earlier prophets. Now, people who think that God invented us think that the Earth can't be more than 6,000 years old. So I guess it's a question of belief. My belief system doesn't support a creator as such, as we can call God, who created us in His/Her/Its image.

Would you consider yourself an atheist, or agnostic?

It's a hard question because as I said at the start, I think we invented God. So if I believe in God, and I do, it's because I think I'm God.

Of the questions you ask on the show, which one was the closest to you? What did you think about the most?

Travel. The idea of travel. That incorporates two or three different questions. One is how long can we live? Is it possible for us to extend our lifespan into, I don't know, not infinity, but let's say a thousand years? If we could, the idea of space travel would become much more plausible.

Would you like to live a thousand years?

Absolutely. ... You're just satisfying your curiosity. Imagine if you could live for a thousand years. Considering that -- when did the Wright Brothers fly? In the next 200 years, what will we be doing?

Do you think we'll still be going to movie theaters and watching TV?

I could foresee holograms in your living room.

One of the big questions in my little universe: Will your character, Lucius Fox, make it out of the "Dark Knight Rises" alive?

Yeah.

How does it feel to be done with the Batman series?

I don't see it so much as being done with it. It's the end of a chapter, that's all.

The third season of Science's "Through the Wormhole" premieres tonight at 10/9 c.

No terms were disclosed. The companies have jointly managed ESS for 16 years.

The companies also announced that Manu Sawhney, managing director of ESS, will transition his role to Peter Hutton, currently senior vice president of sports for FOX International Channels. Hutton will report to the ESS Board. Sawhney will stay with the Company until Aug. 31.

“News Corporation's acquisition of the interest of ESS that we did not already own continues the program of simplifying our operating model, consolidating our affiliate ownership structures, and furthers our commitment to delivering incredible sports programming to consumers across the globe, and particularly enhancing our position in sports programming in emerging markets,” said James Murdoch, deputy chief operating officer and chairman and CEO international of News Corporation.

“We are extremely proud of our role in building ESS into what it is today, and now with the growing digital landscape in Asia, we look forward to continuing to serve Asian sports fans through ESPN-branded digital businesses like ESPNCricinfo, the leading digital cricket brand in the world, ESPNFC and ESPN Mobile,” said John Skipper, president of ESPN and co-chairman of Disney Media Networks.